Matt Hardy Talks Possible Return To WWE Or TNA, ROH Future, OMEGA This Sat., SCUM Vs. Aces & 8's

By Raj GiriMay 23, 2013 12:28 pm EST

I recently spoke with Matt Hardy. In the second and final part of the interview below, Hardy discussed returning to ROH, if it would have been better to sign with TNA now than when he did, WWE adding him to their Alumni section and if he knew it would happen, his future with ROH and much more..

Click here for part one of the Matt Hardy interview, where Hardy discussed his life since rehab, how he feels physically, the return of OMEGA, WCW ripping of his name, signing with WWE during the Attitude Era and much more.

OMEGA's "Support the Sport" event takes place this Saturday, May 25th at East Wake High School in Wendell, NC. Hardy will team up with "Hurricane" Shane Helms to battle CW Anderson and Steve Corino. Davey Richards & Kyle O'Reilly are also scheduled to appear, you can get more details about the event at this link. You can also follow Matt on Twitter @MATTHARDYBRAND, and you can purchase Hardy related merchandise at shopmatthardy.com.

How his ROH deal came about: "It came about, originally I did the Shane Shamrock Cup at Maryland Championship Wrestling. Been good friends with Dan McDevitt, the guy who runs that promotion, we did indies for him before we ever got a break with WWE. While we were there that day, it just happened to be the Shane Shamrock Cup that Adam Cole was going to win. Hunter Johnston, Delirious, was there that day and I really got to interact and speak with him. I can't even remember if I met him previously in the past but I spoke to him briefly, then Cornette, I talked to him later after that. We threw around a couple ideas. I was extremely busy at that time as well. I couldn't really start on a full TV and iPPV schedule with them until December.

"I had a day, there was a cancellation, I went and did the shot in September and then in December I started my storyline arc with them that was kind of going to go from December to Wrestlemania originally with Adam Cole, which has been a blast. It's one of the funnest things I've done in my career and maybe now I just enjoy stuff a little more than I did before. I really love this. Adam Cole, can't say enough about him. He's 22, maybe he's 23 now. He's so far ahead of the curve as far as an athlete and his mentality and his promos, the way he carries himself and it's been a lot of fun to work with him. And I see a couple things I can give here, maybe fundamentally. I definitely can't make these guys better athletes or more exciting than they are, because they're great. They're young, they're healthy and they're driven and I know just what their passion is about. It's been a blast working with Ring of Honor, especially being a heel, the particular way I've been a heel, because I don't really have to be a fake, phony heel. I just get to be me and they dislike me because I'm me. That makes my job easy, but it also makes it very fun."

How long he'll be with ROH: "I'm going to be at a couple of their live events coming up. I'm going to be in a pretty important deal in the Best In The World pay per view. I'm at the TV after that. And then we're negotiating dates going forward but I think I'm going to be around for a little bit. I think it's kind of worked out for everyone.

"Fortunately, like I said, we came into wrestling at a very ideal time with the Attitude Era and there's a lot of Matt Hardy and Hardy Boyz fans out there that will tune into Ring of Honor to see me even though the Ring of Honor diehard fan base definitely want to boo me and they have their issues with me, whatever they may be. I think it's kind of worked out for everyone. For me, it's been a fun form to go out there and perform and do my thing again. With them I think it helps them because it kind of puts some new eyeballs on their product as well."

What are some of the differences in ROH since his last run in 2005: "It's obviously different management. A little bit of a different mind set. I really think now, with the Sinclair broadcasting people running it and Hunter Johnston, Kevin Kelly, they are both very important power brokers behind the scenes, I just think there's a very good mentality of trying to stay loyal to the Ring of Honor brand, also trying to expand out as a TV show and as an entertainment company as well. I think that's important because when it's all said and done, wrestling is of course, story telling and there is going to be an entertainment aspect to it.

"I think Ring of Honor can always stay true to the Ring of Honor brand and stay true to the, the most important thing is the in-ring product. That's what comes first. But I do think that you have to have some entertainment mixed in there with it. You have to have characters developed and you have to have stories. I think that the biggest difference now with Ring of Honor, compared to back then, would be that there is more of a focus and more of a realization that that entertainment needs to be there. Before when I was there in 2005, that's when Gabe ran the promotion, and I almost think Ring of Honor was focused on just being an in ring product and really trying to make those fans happy, the die hard fans, as opposed to growing their circle of fans larger. Now I think Dragon Gate USA or Evolve is more of a product then Ring of Honor was in 2005 when I worked there as opposed to Ring of Honor now, if that makes sense."

How does SCUM compare to Aces & Eights: "In some ways I would say it's similar to Aces & Eights, a little bit. But Steve Corino, who I think has been masterful at doing what he's doing now, I'm a big fan of his work. Especially pulling out, as far as being the bad guy on the show, pulling out the things the Ring of Honor fans come up with that are hypocritical. As far as saying oh, you were upset because BJ Whitmer didn't hit me with an unprotected chair shot from behind, or you want him to hit Rhett Titus with an unprotected chair shot yet you're the wrestling fans that claim you care about the wrestler. You know, he's very good at taking and getting on that pulse, as far as being a bad guy who can pull out the points that are hypocritical from the fans, which gives them a lot of legitimacy.

"For me, that's what's fun to do in this gig as well. I think SCUM has a point. Steve said, because Jim Cornette came in and Ring of Honor went away and got away from what it used to be, now maybe it is focusing on being more of an entertainment company or whatever, that they want to destroy the Ring of Honor. At least there is an agenda there. So there is a story to follow that's a little easier. With the Aces & Eights, I think, I guess they want to take over TNA. I don't know if they want to destroy it, or whatever. So, I'm real big on making the story telling be as real as it could possibly be and as sophisticated as it could be possibly be and I'll be honest. In my mind, I'm not a mega fan of the groups and the alliances, especially like that. I'm really a big fan of making the story telling as believable as possible so that every casual fan can follow it and it totally makes sense because I think wrestling, from a story telling standpoint."

If he feels that it would be a better time to sign with TNA now, as opposed to when he did: "I do agree with that [that he signed at the wrong time]. I needed time off. I needed to live life. I needed to heal. I need to get away from the wrestling bubble. I needed to not let wrestling define me and not let the wrestling business become me, which I did.

"As far as now, what I'd be interested in if something did come along, with ROH now I'm under contract. It's a very nice working agreement. It's been wonderful. I can't say enough good things about Ring of Honor right now. If something came along with TNA or WWE where it could be some sort of part time gig where I thought I would be healthy and happy, and with saying that, I'm not some sort of star like Stone Cold or Shawn Michaels or Undertaker that can command a schedule like that, I just know I need to be realistic with myself. I've been very blessed. I've made a lot of money in the business. I'm financially secure and set for life. I do this because I love it. If something worked out where it would help both sides, I would definitely be open to it. But I'm not just going to put myself through a strenuous effort because I've done that and I'm past that. At this age now, I know what my limits are and I want to make sure that first and foremost, Matt Hardy the person is happy and healthy."

His thoughts on WWE adding him to their Alumni section: "It was a little bit of a surprise when it happened. I knew it was kind of in the works to happen. It's one of those things, looking back in hindsight, even though I was very frustrated and needed time off, I probably should have been very vocal about needing time off, more vocal than I would have been.

"Leaving WWE probably was a mistake. In hindsight, if I could have worked something out where I could have had time off or done whatever because WWE still is, it is the greatest entertainment company in the world. As time has went on I think they've made some great changes and are really a lot more focused on the health and the well-being of their employees and that's great because it's something that wrestlers really need to do. That's kind of what they said they wanted to do years ago and they've truly got there now, I think. It doesn't happen overnight, but I think in time it continues to get better.

"It's one of those things. I made a lot of dumb decisions and I made a lot of people upset when I left there, but I can tell over time, time heals everything. A lot of those wounds are starting to close and relationships are getting better. So, I kind of knew it was happening and it was really cool when it did and I was very honored because when it's all said and done, the WWE was, is, my home. That's where I truly made a name for myself and Jeff as well. I will always be appreciative of everything they've done for me."

How would he compare WWE, TNA and ROH: "That's a tricky question. The strength of the WWE, first and foremost, is that it's so entrenched everywhere, across the globe. Their TV is so powerful. Even still today, I haven't been on WWE TV since 2010 and still everywhere I go, everyday, virtually, I'm recognized somewhere and they recognize me from WWE TV, first and foremost. The power of their branding is just unbelievable. They're really great at doing big events. I think they're doing a lot of things, as the company continues to evolve, as far as taking better care of the guys. That's one thing that's really hard with wrestling because when you're storytelling and you have certain characters, like Dolph Ziggler for instance, who I just read about had a serious concussion recently, it's hard when you kind of have something planned out for this guy for months in advance and all of a sudden you have to pull him out of there and take him off the show. A lot of times in the wrestling business it's one of those things where people would say suck it up and go and the guy continues to push through. He might get through okay or it could really jeopardize his health later on in life. But now, I mean even WWE made the conscious decision to pull him out of that match, make sure he had mandatory time off and I do respect that. It's one of those things, if they really want people to be healthy and they want people to be very aware of what their lifestyle is as a wrestler and be extremely healthy across the board, then they have to do their part as well. And I really think that by doing this thing with Dolph Ziggler, I know Christian's been out for a long while because he's been injured. I think they're doing their part in a lot better of a way now than they have in the past.

"I think TNA is a great place for newer guys to go, especially get some TV exposure to work TV for the first time. I think it's a great move for TNA to get their TV program out where it's in front of a different audience besides just the Impact Zone in Orlando. It's just one of those things. TNA is in a growing process, they're in a learning process. I think they're going to make missteps along the way, but I think if TNA can continue to improve and continue to get better it's really important because the more places we have to be, somewhat of a competitive level between brands, I think that does help the business and it helps the boys try and look better on each program and I think it helps the people in the office to try and make the show better as well.

"And then I think Ring of Honor is great because it's on the edge in many ways where it focuses mainly on the in ring product and I think there's steps being taken in Ring of Honor to try and grow into the next level as well, I guess into an entertainment company, what I said earlier.

"I think all companies are beneficial and we need them to all be around and we need them all to continue to get better. I think there's a lot of talented guys out there, and I've seen this first hand from working on different independent events across the country. There's a lot of really talented guys out there that deserve an opportunity and the more spots that open up and the more companies that are able to help guys make a living from this crazy business, it's just more opportunity for everyone. I think that's better for the wrestlers and the wrestling fans."

Final words: "[This] Saturday, May 25th, we're going to be in Raleigh, North Carolina at the East Wake High School, which is going to be a full-fledged Omega show. If you're anywhere in the Raleigh area this is a show you don't want to miss because we're going to pull out the stops and we're going to make this one very special. Once again, I can't say enough good things about Hurricane and his old partner, Mike Maverick, who have done a great job promoting this event in that area, they both live in that area. And then for all you guys trying to keep up with me, for Matt Hardy you can check me out on the web at MattHardyBrand.com and I also have a web store where you can get everything related to Matt Hardy, if you're interested that's ShopMattHardy.com and on Twitter and YouTube you can follow me both at @MATTHARDYBRAND.

Matt Hardy Talks Possible Return To WWE Or TNA, ROH Future, OMEGA This Sat., SCUM Vs. Aces & 8's

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